It’s a hot summer day and Franklin resident Patty Dillon has filled her morning with exercise and errands. She may be in “summer mode” but her mind is never far from her life’s passion – serving as a third-grade teacher at Memorial Elementary School in Medway.
    

Life lessons: Conversation with a Teacher

  By Heather Kempskie  

It’s a hot summer day and Franklin resident Patty Dillon has filled her morning with exercise and errands. She may be in “summer mode” but her mind is never far from her life’s passion – serving as a third-grade teacher at Memorial Elementary School in Medway.

 

She spoke with P&K on how parents can set their child up for a successful school year:

  Homework strategy: Just do it!

“If a child is taught early to be organized it will help him in life tremendously,” she says.

 

This lesson can begin by instituting some homework routines in your home. “If a parent has the luxury of being there when their child gets home from school, I suggest allowing the child 20 minutes to unwind or have a snack and then start homework right away,” says Dillon. “They are already in the mode and that way it’s done early and they have the rest of the afternoon and night to enjoy.”

 

If a parent works full-time, they can pick a specific time to sit down and review homework with their child. “Circle what they answered incorrectly and have them correct it,” she says.

  Encourage organizational skills

Moms and dads, you’ll have to polish your skills too. Tremendous amounts of paperwork are coming your way and area teachers need you to make a daily habit of going through it all.

 

“I give my students a homework folder. In it, they write down their homework assignments and include any notices for the parents,” said Dillon. Together, parent and child can go through the folder; sign what must be signed; review homework and keep any papers you need for your records.

 

A homework folder can also serve as a communication tool between parent and teacher. Write down any problems your child had with an assignment or fill in the teacher on the loss of pet, etc.

  Communicate with the teacher

Dillon warns that the first few days of school can be pretty tense for kids.

 

“Sit down with your child if she comes home upset and try not to overreact. It’s too easy to take things out of context,” says Dillon. “Take a deep breath and talk to the teacher.”

      Get ready for a fun school year

If your child is entering a new school, visit the school in August when many teachers are getting their classrooms ready. Walk the halls, point out the cafeteria and the bathrooms.

 

Dillon also recommends that parents spend at least 20-minutes a day reading with their child. Also, if your child learned new math skills last year, practice them daily to be ready for next year.